[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete":3,"chapter-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from the Apocalypse, I Alone Severed Eternity",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312437,4518,"Chapter 55: Fate Is Uncertain, Reality Is Changeable","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>Fang Shi felt a sudden chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Lady of Luck had possessed a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, being watched by a deity was no good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lady of Luck favors you” does not mean mere luck in the literal sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It means the deity, who sees herself as the embodiment of luck, has taken an interest in Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lady of Luck favors you” essentially means she wants Fang Shi to become her Chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Fang Shi had not been reborn, he might have accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with a deity’s protection, one’s strength increases dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extra talents are granted, levels surge, and in crisis, one can be pulled straight to the Celestial Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Survival in the apocalypse becomes far safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem lies in Fang Shi’s rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one can control time—not even the Time Dragon, who merely drifts within time itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cannot take others through time and space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After becoming a Chosen, one’s soul holds no secrets from the deity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Past memories can be dredged up one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the deity discovers you are a reborn soul, being flayed alive would be the least of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your soul would be torn apart, your spirit shattered—unless the deity uncovers the secret of rebirth, she will never stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this represents the supreme authority—time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To master time is to master all of the multiverse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even benevolent deities are not safe; they might seek to break free from dogma and faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hunger for time is greater, and their methods more ruthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the deities’ stance in this apocalypse is unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monsters attacking Blue Star include not only followers of evil deities, but also followers of benevolent ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even benevolent deities have directly ordered the assault on Blue Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deity worshipped by the Firefeathers, Aivendela, should belong to the chaotic good alignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She should not have launched an invasion—yet she did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, a Chosen priest communicated with the deity to understand why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was immediately stripped of his Chosen status; had it not been for the brutal power of the attribute panel, his level might have been wiped clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, Fang Shi had no intention of becoming the Lady of Luck’s Chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if his power surged temporarily, the long-term consequences would be endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, I am but an ordinary mortal—what merit or virtue have I to earn your favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi spoke humbly, barely stopping short of outright refusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of Luck smiled with a slight smirk; she had sensed Fang Shi’s discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of golden light transformed the boy Jiang Xian into a girl Jiang Xian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, a girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Jiang Xian’s chest now bore what no boy should have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face had become feminine, even cute and beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with the Lady of Luck’s aura, her every gesture carried both the playfulness of a girl and the allure of a mature woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Power—Alter Reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the deity’s power of creation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Fate-Undefined One? How could you possibly be ordinary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora’s silver bell-like laughter echoed through the labyrinth, as if Fang Shi’s ordinariness was laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate-Undefined?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi asked, puzzled: “What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora smiled: “Mortal, do you know what fate is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi shook his head: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora waved her right hand, and the world around them changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath them appeared a raging, endless river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora and Fang Shi stood upon the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Power—Virtual Reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed to the river below: “This river is fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All living beings exist within this river, flowing downstream—fate is already sealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet the multiverse is vast; accidents inevitably occur.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>»\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are beings whose fate lies within the river, yet they do not flow downstream—they are unknown.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such beings are called Fate-Undefined Ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Tymora’s explanation, Fang Shi suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was just determinism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant everyone’s fate was predetermined—but some were not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why his own fate was undefined, Fang Shi strongly suspected it was due to his rebirth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps his fate was fixed before rebirth; after rebirth, it changed—and thus became undefined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fang Shi disliked this theory; he hated the feeling of determinism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, I think this view is wrong. If one person’s fate is undefined—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who interact with him will have their fates disturbed, and thus become undefined too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These disturbed individuals, in turn, interact with others, whose fates also become undefined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus, one spreads to ten, ten to a hundred—everyone’s fate becomes undefined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore, there are no truly predetermined beings—all are Fate-Undefined Ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi’s argument was logical, unless these Fate-Undefined Ones were isolated beyond the multiverse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, even disturbing a single particle would make everyone’s fate undefined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora shook her head: “Mortal, I thought you had sharp insight, yet you fail to grasp this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi was not offended; he seized the chance to say: “So I am unworthy of your favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora giggled: “No, mortal—the more you refuse, the more I favor you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you murmured my name, I sensed your existence—that is fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I murmured her name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi was startled; he recalled carefully—he had indeed muttered her name once during a draw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it have been that time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady, you said my fate is undefined—why do you now call this fate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora gave him a flat look: “That proves you don’t understand fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi was about to retort: “You don’t understand a damn thing—your logic is incoherent, nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he remembered her authority—perhaps she truly understood fate deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just a mortal, with limited knowledge; better not to humiliate himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora continued: “Most believe fate has only one possibility—but in truth, there are countless possibilities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Fate-Undefined One simply has more choices—not that they lie outside fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their uncertainty is relative to the mainstream of fate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tymora waved her hand again; the river instantly split into countless tributaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These tributaries are the fates of the Fate-Undefined Ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They hide within the river—even deities cannot see through them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for other beings, even if disturbed by Fate-Undefined Ones—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Under the overwhelming force of the mainstream, the ripples eventually fade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The final outcome remains sealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi understood again: this was treating all possibilities as a single set—called fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within fate were two subsets: one called the mainstream, the other called the tributaries (others).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary beings belonged to the mainstream; Fate-Undefined Ones belonged to the tributaries (others).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The influence of tributaries on the mainstream was always corrected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi deeply suspected that “deities cannot see through” meant the tributary set contained too many possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deities had limited power—they could not observe them all, so they called it “unseeable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, this classification of sets must be changeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Lady of Luck, his past life was certainly part of the predetermined fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he had muttered her name many times before rebirth—why hadn’t she come then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apart from Fate-Undefined Ones, can the fates of other beings not be changed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, how could any other being become an Unfated One?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi felt his rebirth could not possibly be so simple—it must conceal a great secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not bear to let this chance pass without probing the Lucky Lady for clues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora explained: “Of course. Deities can alter the fate of all beings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But such alteration merely channels their own tributary into the main stream of fate, thereby influencing its direction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In essence, these beings’ fates remain predetermined; only the main stream changes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi’s gaze sharpened: “So Your Majesty means all deities are Unfated Ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora smiled: “Mortal, don’t you understand yet? The Unfated One holds the possibility of immortality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though this path is strewn with thorns, and only one in ten thousand may reach its end, it is already luckier than all mortal things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi fell silent for a moment: “Why me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had not learned from the Lucky Lady how to become an Unfated One, he now understood her purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deities vary in temperament, yet one truth never changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are all beings who never act without benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would they idle across worlds to meet a stranger and expend divine power to alter reality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi warned himself: never again summon a deity’s name so carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if another deity answered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it might also be due to the Lucky Lady’s domain—making her more sensitive to Unfated Ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora smirked seductively: “Because I like it. I want to see what kind of storm an Unfated One can stir up on Blue Star.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And don’t you think the theme of post-apocalyptic survival is unfair to humanity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If humanity can quickly produce a strong one, the apocalypse will no longer be an apocalypse—it will become a landscape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi believed her. Her nature truly was like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could not bear injustice in the multiverse and often intervened on the side of justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was certainly not the whole truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his rebirth, the actions of all deities pointed to one issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue Star was important to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How important, Fang Shi did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that did not stop him from suspecting the Lucky Lady’s motives were far from simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always: if not for his rebirth, he might have accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could always become a traitor later—could a deity really cross the attribute panel to strip his power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the attribute panel’s core nature is plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a deity refuses to grant power to a priest, can the priest not advance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s too naive. Watch me forcibly plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you won’t bleed willingly, someone else will bleed for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi still remembered: before his rebirth, some people sought special abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They deliberately became priests of evil deities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After succeeding, they ignored the evil deity—and their levels still skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your kindness, Lady, but I cannot accept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi declined, tightening his grip on his longsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora’s expression turned cold: “Mortal, you refuse me again and again, without even hearing my terms—you insult me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, an endless pressure surged toward Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strained to resist; his bones cracked audibly, and he involuntarily bent his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a chasm of life-tier—unavoidable, and impossible to evade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it could be resisted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your will, honed over time, has improved: I → II.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“【Steel Will II】: You possess extraordinary resolve. (+6 bonus to all Will saves)”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his rebirth, Fang Shi’s will had already been on the verge of transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After rebirth, through days of battle and facing the pressure of a third-rank creature and a deity,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his Steel Will I finally broke through, rising from +2 to +6.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That four-point difference freed him from the divine pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it was only a faint projection of divine might, it was an extraordinary feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi slowly straightened: “Your Majesty, you know you cannot harm me. Why waste divine power?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, his blood-red cloak hung on him, his steel sword gripped tight, eyes blazing, meeting Taimora’s gaze without fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since Fang Shi stood taller than Jiang Xian, as if looking down upon Taimora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora’s face grew colder: “Mortal, who gave you the courage to defy a deity? Do you fear no divine punishment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi smiled faintly: “Lady, why not try casting divine power on me yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t dodge. I’m right here. Give me a harsher divine punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora’s expression turned indifferent: “So you know about the Edicts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But do you know Edicts aren’t omnipotent? I can lower your luck, plunge you into misfortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could even pay a price to make you truly die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shi showed no fear: “Really? I’ll wait and see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his rebirth, why was sacrilege so widespread?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because one day, a colossal face appeared in the sky above Blue Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a deity attempting to descend—but no matter how furious it became,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>no matter how the weather shifted, thunder cracked across the heavens,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even as it lit the entire sky with dazzling fireworks,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it could never descend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, this day-long spectacle ended as abruptly as it began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, countless traitors were born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all, except those killed by monsters, lived perfectly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trial Tower and Secret Realms remained accessible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No deity raised any fuss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are deities all fools? Good deities might be excusable—but evil ones?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They simply lack the power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Fang Shi’s own misfortunes—could they truly be called bad luck?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Infinite Labyrinth, encountering a Level 6 monster on the third try? That’s luck, isn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you don’t seek to slay it, the danger is minimal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just run away and you clear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the third-rank creature? Purely a scare, no real threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t treat Edicts like dumb fools without judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a deity says “do not intervene,” then they cannot intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they still collect their benefits without fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taimora, hearing Fang Shi’s provocation, spoke coldly: “Mortal, you need to wake up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine power—altering reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endless golden light burst from Taimora’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rushing toward Fang Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cute pink pig fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank you to Dukou Dukou Dukou for the monthly ticket and Wudi Naiqi Ge for the donation.\u003C\u002Fp>",2186,"2026-06-20T12:43:33.559Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a98c3d55989ce488584fe5fb18ad8abd39e82d7b8989f56585ee4a90971076e2","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-56","starting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-chapter-54",109,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-the-apocalypse-i-alone-severed-ete-cover.jpg"]